Network Dropouts

[Mike48]

(21-07-2014 20:53)simoncn Wrote:  My point was that it is possible to make this 100% reliable. I agree that it can be hard to diagnose the cause of any problems, especially with a mix of components from different manufacturers.

Right! And mine was, in a way, the same . . . that it isn't like hooking a preamp to a power amp, which -- even if they are from different manufacturers -- will work 99.95% of the time (1). And that combination is even more likely to be free of intermittent malfunctions.

Network audio is wonderful when it works. However, it's still a bit "bleeding edge": correct function is not by any means a given, even when the parts have been glowingly reviewed and seem to work together at first.

Part of the issue is that even professional reviewers are inexperienced in this and sometimes overlook obvious flaws (lack of gapless) or subtle ones. Also, they seem biased towards Apple computers. That's fine, but more people have PCs, and just as speakers are usually reviewed with both tube and solid-state amps, streaming gear should be tested fully with both Apple and PC setups, with both iOS and Android control points. If not, the review is valid only for those using the same gear as the reviewer.

(1) Number made up.